Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4565
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-17T15:14:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4565: Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act
Purpose
This legislation aims to protect U.S. critical infrastructure from cyber threats posed by state-sponsored actors from the People's Republic of China, such as the group known as Volt Typhoon. It does so by creating an interagency task force for better coordination and requiring detailed reports on these threats.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including critical infrastructure (systems essential to national security, economy, or public safety), cybersecurity threats, sectors (groups of assets serving common functions), and specific entities like the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
- Task Force Establishment: Within 120 days of enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the CISA Director, must create a joint interagency task force. This group includes representatives from the Department of Justice, FBI, and relevant Sector Risk Management Agencies to detect, analyze, and respond to threats.
- Leadership and Composition: The CISA Director (or designee) serves as chairperson, with the FBI Director (or designee) as vice chairperson. Members must have expertise in cybersecurity, digital forensics, or threat analysis.
- Reports and Briefings:
- An initial report due within 540 days, followed by annual reports for 5 years.
- Reports must cover sector-specific risks, needed resources, potential impacts in a crisis or conflict with China, effects on U.S. military operations, and economic/social consequences.
- Each report includes a classified version with an unclassified executive summary published publicly.
- Classified briefings to Congress within 30 days of each report.
- Information Access: Relevant agencies must share necessary data with the task force, subject to security rules and clearances.
- Termination: The task force ends 60 days after the final briefing.
- Exemptions: The task force is exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new requirements for interagency collaboration and reporting on specific foreign cyber threats, rather than amending prior statutes in major ways. It builds on existing frameworks like the Homeland Security Act but adds targeted mandates for addressing China-linked actors.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases coordination among federal entities like CISA, FBI, and sector-specific agencies, potentially requiring additional resources for analysis and response.
- Citizens and Businesses: Includes a one-time public awareness campaign for critical infrastructure owners and operators; may lead to improved security practices that affect daily operations in sectors like energy, transportation, and communications.
- International Relations: Focuses on threats from the People's Republic of China, which could influence diplomatic or security discussions without directly altering treaties or policies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, CISA, FBI, Sector Risk Management Agencies, and the intelligence community.
- Owners and operators of critical infrastructure across various sectors.
- Congressional committees on homeland security, judiciary, and intelligence.
- State and local governments involved in infrastructure management.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill emphasizes classified assessments and security clearances, raising standard issues around information protection and oversight.
- Exemptions from certain administrative laws streamline operations but limit standard review processes.
- Politically, it highlights specific concerns about foreign cyber threats, potentially shaping future policy debates on infrastructure resilience.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (13 pages)